Banjo bridge



Nov. 15, 1927.

F. J. BA CON ET AL BANJO BRIDGE Filed Auz. 12, 1924 gwvewtow i. J .BaCOzv.

Patented 'Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

FREDERICK J. BACON AND DAVID 1.. DAY, or escrow, CONNECTICUT.

, BANJO BRIDGE.

Application filed August 12, 1924.

This invention relates to improvements in banjo bridges and has as its general object to provide a bridge so formed and constructed as to overcome the disadvantages presented by the ordinary bridge.

The ordinary banjo bridge comprises a single integral piece of wood fashioned to the required shape and the bridge has a relatively thin upper edge formed with notches to receive the strings. In applying such a bridge to the head of the instrument, the strings are more or less tensioned and the bridge is then arranged beneath the strings and between the same and the head of the instrument and isswung upwardly to assume an upright position, the strings being so ar-' ranged, prior to the upward forcing of the bridge, as to engage in the said notches in the upper edgeof the bridge. It very frequently happens, in employing bridge of this type, that the strings will chip or split the thin edge of the bridge, thus render ing the bridge useless and causing inconvenience and annoyance to the performer or player, particularly in concert playing. Therefore, it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a bridge s constructed that there will be no likelihood whatsoever of any mutilation of the bridge or any portion thereof when the same is swung or forced to upright position.

Another disadvantage presented by bridges of the ordinary type above referred to, is thatthe bridge as a whole is relatively high so that at the time of forcing the bridge or swinging the same to upright position, the bridge is liable to slip or tilt. Therefore, the invention has as a further important object, to provide a bridge so constructed that it may be forced to upright po sition without any likelihood whatsoever of slippage or tilting.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a banjo bridge of such construction and adapted to support the strings in such a manner as to effect free and direct vibration of each string. thereby producinn a clearer and fuller resonant tone quality as the strings are struck. In this connection, the invention further contemplates supporting the strings in position elevated above the bridge proper by individual supporting members so that each string may vibrate individually without tending to cause any vibration of the other strings,

Serial No. 731,603.

numeral 1 and the same is formed from any suitable kind of wood and is provided with the usual supporting legs 2 located at the ends of its under side. The body of the bridge, in accordance with the present invention, is relatively low or, in other words, somewhat lower than the ordinary bridge, and the upper edge of the said body, indicated by the numeral 3, is not brought to an acute ridge as is the case in the ordinary bridge, but is flat and occupies a horizontal plane throughout its entire length.

The invention contemplates the provision of a number of string supporting posts, indicated in general in the drawings by the numeral 4, which are mounted upon the bridge body andeach of which supports an individual string. Each of the posts 4: comprises a body 5 which is substantially cylindrical in form and has a substantially semi-spherical upper end indicated by the numeral 6 which is formed with a preferably V-shaped slot indicated by the numeral '7 and adapted to accommodate the string.

At its lower end, each post is provided with a depending stem-8 which is concentrically located with relation to the periphery of the bottom of the body 5 and of a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the said body. The bridge body 1 is formed with a. number of sockets 9, suitably spaced throughout the length of its upper edge 3, and the stems 8 of the several posts 4: are

titted into the sockets and may either be frictionally held therein or may be held by adhesive, the posts being so arranged that their string notches 7 will extend in a direction transversely of the length of the bridge as a whole.

In applying the bridge embodying the invention, the strings are suitably tensioned and the bridge is disposed upon the head of the instrument, lying upon one side and between the said head of the instrument and the strings. The bridge is then swung upwardly to assume an upright position and after this has been done each individual string is elevated and passed over the rounded upper end of the respective supporting post 4- and engaged with the notch 7 of the said post, the instrument being then in condition for tuning of the strings.

The posts 4 may be made of any material found suitable for the purpose, such for example, as ivory, bone, and the like, and it will be evidentthat in the instance of the present invention, each string is supported by an individual one of the posts so that there will be little likelihood of vibration being transmitted from one string to another, each string, when struck, vibrating freely and giving a full, crisp and resonant note. It will further be noted by reference to the drawings, and particularly Figure 3 thereof, that the string posts are of sub stantially a diameter equal to the thickness of the bridge body 1 at its upper edge 3, and the posts will be of such height as to sup port the strings at the same elevation at which they would be supported by the ordinary bridge. It will furthermore be evident that in forcing or swinging the bridge to upright position, there will be no likelihood of ch pping of the upper edge of the bridge body, or even it this should by accident occur, the bridge is not rendered useless thereby.

The bridge disclosed in the drawings, is designed primarily for use upon banjos, but it will be readily understood that it may be employed, e ther in its illustrated form or in more or less modified form, in connection with other stringed instruments of the same general type. Regardless of the kind of stringed instrument to which the bridge is applied, it will possess the advantage, as previously po nted out, that it'will' be much lower in height than the ordinary bridge, thereby providing against slipping and overturning or other displacement.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is:

1. A banjo bridge comprising a relatively low bridge body, and a plurality of string supporting posts upstanding from the upper edge of the body, each of said posts having a string receiving notch in its upper en and having its said end, at opposite sides of the notch, rounded on all sides.

2. A banjo bridge comprising a relatively low bridge body, and a plurality of string supporting posts upstanding from the upper edge or" the body and each having a substantially semi-spherical upper end provided with a string receiving notch.

3. A banjo bridge comprising a bridge body of relatively shallow form and having a flat upper edge face provided with a plurality of sockets, and a plurality of string supporting posts having stems at their lower ends fitting in the sockets in the upper edge of the bridge body, the bodies of the posts extending above said face of the body, each of the said posts having a round-ed upper end and provided in it's said end with a string receiving notch.

4. A banjo bridge comprising a relatively low bridge body having a flat upper edge face provided with a plurality of sockets, and a plurality of string supporting posts each of cylindrical form and having a substantially semi-spherical upper end provided with a diametric string receiving notch, each o't said posts at its bottom having a downwardly extending axially located stem fitting in one of the sockets in the said upper edge face of the bridge body.

5. A banjo bridge comprising a low bridge body characterized by a relatively shallow, straight body member having a continuous upper edge, relatively short supporting legs at the ends of the body member, and a plurality of individual string-support ing posts mounted upon the upper edge of the body member and upstanding therefrom.

6. A bridge for banjos and similar instruments comprising a relatively 'low' bridge body constructed at its ends to rest upon the banjo head with the portion between its ends spaced from the banjo-head, and spaced string-receiving posts rising from the upper edge of the body, the combined heights of the body and a post being substantially equal to the height of a standard bridge.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

FREDERICK J. BACON. [Ls] DAVID L. DAY. [1,. 5.] 

